by WGO staff
On Thursday, February 27, Cape Breton University will host the 21st Annual J.B. McLachlan Memorial lecture with a presentation on housing, poverty, and human rights by Dr. Catherine Leviten-Reid titled “Housing for All.” The talk takes place at 11:30am in the Verschuren Centre Atrium.
“One of the critical supports for those living in poverty is affordable housing,” says Dr. Leviten-Reid. “Housing is a known contributor to health, neighborhood stability, the ability to keep a job, and achievement in school. In the National Housing Strategy Act, passed last summer, housing is also noted to be key to one’s “dignity and well-being,” and the right to housing was recognized.”
The annual lecture honours the life and legacy of J.B. McLachlan, a Scottish immigrant and coal miner who arrived in Cape Breton in 1902 and helped lead District 26 of the United Mine Workers of America until his death in 1937. The event also celebrates the J.B. McLachlan scholarship, which is awarded annually to a university-bound Cape Breton student who shows exceptional academic and leadership abilities.
“We are thrilled that Dr. Leviten-Reid will be presenting this year’s lecture,” says Dr. Andy Parnaby, Dean of the School of Arts and Social Sciences. “Poverty and access to housing are topics we need to create an open dialogue on, so we can come together as a community to support those in need and look for long-term solutions.”
The event is sponsored by the J.B. McLachlan Commemorative Society, the School of Arts and Social Sciences, and Cape Breton University. It is free and open to the public, with light refreshments to be served.
